Brett Favre and Brad Childress celebrate the Vikings score on the first play from scrimmage against the Houston Texans Monday night August 31, 2009 at Reliant Stadium in Houston. (Pioneer Press: Chris Polydoroff)

Vikings veterans have been diplomatic about Childress reversing his stance before training camp that the club was ‘going forward with the guys we have,’ a reference to quarterbacks Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels.

To encourage honesty, the Pioneer Press offered anonymity to 19 players interviewed since Favre signed with the Vikings on Aug. 18, including 10 offensive or defensive starters. The prevailing sentiment is that Childress doesn’t owe anybody — especially players — an explanation. Besides, for a few, the ends justify the means.

For an already-talented Vikings team, that could mean a postseason run to the franchise’s first Super Bowl since 1977.

‘You make a move like that,’ one of the starters said, ‘and you’re not just looking to go to the playoffs.’

Yet one player questioned Childress chauffeuring Favre from the airport in St. Paul to Winter Park.

Another starter said that, in his eyes, Childress lost credibility by going against his word, suggesting Childress was doing ‘what it takes’ to get a contract extension, noting that both Favre and Childress were signed through 2010.

‘Read between the lines,’ the starter said.

In addition, four players said they did not believe the deal between Favre and Childress was consummated just before the quarterback signed with the team Aug. 18.

“I’m sure he knew something the whole time,” a starter said of Childress.

For his part, Childress has declined to talk about why he changed his mind, and he’s offered no apologies for his decision.

“Business is business,” Childress said Aug. 26. “Whether they like it or not, that’s the way it is.”

After wrapping up a 3-1 exhibition season relatively unscathed, the Vikings are eagerly awaiting their season opener in Cleveland on Sunday. The defending NFC North champions’ gains (Favre and rookie Percy Harvin) outweigh their losses (Darren Sharper and Matt Birk), and they are projected to be one of the conference’s top teams.

Given those expectations, players have been diplomatic in expressing their opinions about Favre, careful not to offend incumbent Jackson or newcomer Rosenfels.

One player who generated headlines for his Favre-related comments was starting linebacker Chad Greenway.

In May, Greenway complimented Favre’s credentials but questioned his loyalty.

“He’s retired a couple of times, so you wonder where his loyalties lie,” Greenway said during a community tour stop in Marshall, Minn.

On Friday, Greenway said he hasn’t addressed his comment with Favre — and he didn’t plan to.

“I don’t really need to,” Greenway said. “I feel like before it was an issue because he hadn’t made a decision. Now that he’s on the team, he’s a part of our team, and he’s been a great teammate and great in the locker room.

“Now that he’s here, we make the best of it and move forward.”

But at least two NFL analysts with Super Bowl rings suggested Childress violated one of the cornerstones of a successful franchise.

Trust.

“There’s a point in the season when you’re going to face adversity,” said ESPN analyst Mark Schlereth, a three-time Super Bowl champion. “When that happens, will you have guys who will run in front of traffic for you?”

All will be forgotten if the Vikings fulfill their lofty goals, former New England Patriots receiver Troy Brown said on ESPN last month.

“If this team is winning, everybody will forget about what happened,” said Brown, a three-time Super Bowl champion. “But trust me, if they come out and lose the first couple of games, and they’re not doing so well at the halfway point, and if they lose to Green Bay — God forbid they lose to Green Bay — it will be a fallout within that organization that you’ve never seen before.”

Schlereth — who last month told the Pioneer Press that he knows “for a fact” that there are Vikings players who don’t trust Childress — questioned the exceptions Favre already has been afforded: skipping training camp, walking into a starting job and being picked up at the airport by the head coach.

“He may be a dictatorial coach,” Schlereth said of Childress, “but he made the bed, and he needs to lie in it.

“Brett’s going to do what he’s going to do, and you have to give him a certain amount of leeway.”

One example, apparently, is Favre’s nickname for Childress: “Chilli,” which the quarterback has said on at least two occasions.

For his part, Greenway said he focuses on his job and his relationship with Childress.

“If you’re not directly involved in what’s going on, it doesn’t suit you to get into it,” Greenway said. “Coach Childress made his decision: We’re going with Brett. Making a decision for the betterment of our football team is his job. So I’m not going to question his job. His job is to question my job.”

Unlike some teammates, Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe hasn’t been shy about sharing his thoughts about Favre. Months ago, Shiancoe reveled in the hype, coining the term “Favre-a-palooza.”

Days before Favre signed, Shiancoe said Favre was entitled to be treated differently.

“Let’s just get it out there,” Shiancoe said at the time. “I’m pretty sure he can do things that other players can’t. Things that are accepted from him won’t be accepted from other players.”

On Monday, Shiancoe offered his unique take on Childress’ change of heart.

“Every human being has changed their mind. He changed his mind. He’s human,” Shiancoe said of his head coach. “He wanted to change his mind. That’s his explanation. He doesn’t have to explain to nobody why he changed his mind.

“Everybody isn’t 100 percent decisive all the time. But I’m not going to lie. I would change my mind, too.”

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